About

$103,705

1,013

The Greasy Hands Preachers is a feature documentary film shot entirely in Super 16mm.

So far we have shot in California, Utah, Nevada, France, Scotland, Spain and Indonesia. We will finish shooting in March 2014.

We are making the film we / you wanted to see. We have realized that we were not alone and that a lot of people want to see a beautiful motorcycle film shot in film not HD. Since Easy Rider or On Any Sunday not much has been made on motorcycles. With the help of friends, and our three fantastic partners : Belstaff, BMW Motorrad and Motul, who since the beginning believed in our project and gave us early financial support. We have been able so far to shoot our film almost entirely. Now we need the help and support of our community to finish post-production and allow this film to be released this year and maybe one day become a classic.

TRAILER IN HD

Sneak preview from the edit room

PITCH

A biker crossing a beautiful landscape is an image that, for most, conveys the idea of freedom. However, the mechanic who builds and repairs this bike remains perceived as proletarian with dirty hands, a man who is without a doubt dominated in the economies of knowledge. How did this generalized devaluation of manual labour create the image of a man in his garage as a prisoner of his own intellectual and financial misery? We can often recall hearing this saying at school: “if you don’t work you’ll end up a mechanic”. As if our good report cards would forever prevent us from becoming poor and stupid.

However, recently, the media has taken a liking to this new wave of handymen who seem to have deliberately chosen their track: from vintage motorcycle customizers to bakers, the fact that they are good with their hands hasn’t been a cause for lack of respect. It’s actually quite the opposite.

Often it’s white-collar workers who no longer find meaning in the contemporary working world. They have rediscovered the virtues of “savoir-faire”, the pleasure of building something tangible by seizing control of a method of production fit for their level and, above all, the satisfaction of understanding what they are doing. So, while the contemporary working world renders the act of “working” obscure by relentlessly continuing to separate the conception from the carrying out and the doing from the thinking, these new craftsmen see in the art of mechanics a way of finding a grip on reality. And, if we look at it closely we can see that there’s a lot more to it than it seems.

Amongst these bikers/craftsmen are those who walk the path to becoming a sensei. They seek perfection in their art without any financial rationality. Their lives are dedicated to this priesthood of seeking perfection; and of going against most things by achieving a certain generosity in their work. Others are, above all, interested in traveling on the machines they’ve created, giving a soul to their motorcycles by redesigning them to fit their own images. But all of them, as craftsmen, gain an honest satisfaction from both the actual physical and practical side and the marvel of the person for whom the machine is meant to be for.

Even if they all demonstrate the same kind of enthusiasm, they remain individualistic in their approach to work. Building a motorcycle is an affirmation of your personality. But, at some point, comes the need to share. Where it be on a road-trip, at a race or at a festival, there is always a sense of community, a “band of brothers”, that involves the enjoyment of being together. There is, in this crude world of mechanics and bikers, a need and desire that reveals an original outlook on work and pleasure, on the group and the individual, on the present and the past. Like surfers, bikers are dedicated to an authentic lifestyle and pure freedom while remaining in connection with the beauty of nature. It makes you wonder if they don’t have in their garage all the tools to build a happy life.

PROTAGONISTS

PREVIOUS MOTORCYCLE WORK

We (Clement and Arthur) have
started making motorcycle short film a bit more than 3 years ago. Vimeo has
awarded our two films a Staff Pick.
These two films total over a million views.

We started by filming people
riding and enjoying their bikes. Then we shot a short documentary about traveling with motorcycle. Now, with The Greasy hands
Preachers the aim is to push things forward and share with you the values, philosophy and work ethics that have made our protagonists happy.

FINANCIAL GOAL

We are aiming at raising US$ 100,000.

In order to have a theatrical release we need to pay for a part of the post production up front to finalize the image, do the sound editing and sound mixing, and also pay for music rights to get a great sound track.

The music right will cost around US$ 35,000

The color grading and the post production will cost up front around US$ 30,000 our post producer joined us as a co-producer

then in February we will finish the film by shooting a few days in California and in Paris for US$ 25,000

Kick Starter and Amazone have a cost of approximatively 10% of the total raised hence 10k for 100K raised.

PRINTS

During the
shooting Mike Valentine our fantastic focus puller/camera assistant and photographer has shot stills in 35mm on the
set. You can acquire some during
this campaign in three different sizes, signed and in limited edition.

Nicolas Manuel Business affaires and Thomas Renaud international coordination.

Some of the crew all together in the Bardenas desert, Spain

Clement, Arthur, Mike and Jack setting a shot

Thomas, the production manager and camera car driver

Mike Valentine shooting stills in 35mm between takes

Shooting surf in Indonesia with Deus, Stephan is behind the camera

Arthur and Clement discussing a shot

Thomas, Clement and Valentin

A cameraman with balls

Risks and challenges

At this point most of the risks associated with the fabrication of the film are behind us. The editing is the major creative challenge ahead. We know we have great material and great protagonists, we know now that we have all we need to reach our expectations.

We want your help, we need your help, we want to make this film with you directly through kickstarter because we made it for you.

Join us in the adventure and let's make the motorcycle film of our generation.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 25 or more
About $25

Receive a digital Copy of the film.
This is the simplest and most cost-effective way to help us. You will receive a link to download a digital copy of the film after its released.And you will be on our wall of fame on our website

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $40 or more
About $40

Receive the Greasy Hands Preachers, Early Believer T-shirt only for those who participated in this kickstarter. This T shirt is the proof that before every one you believed in the potential of our film.
Plus like all backers You will be on our wall of fame in the documentary website.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $60 or more
About $60

Receive a one of the ten Prints in our selection (30x40cm).The Greasy Hands Preachers, Early Believer patch. This patch is exclusively for those who participated in this kickstarter.
Plus like all backers You will be on our wall of fame in the documentary website.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

Receive the Greasy Hands Preachers Early Believer Patch, a T-shirt as well as a digital copy (second half of 2014) and a print (20x30cm)
Plus like all backers You will be on our wall of fame in the documentary website.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 5,000 or more
About $5,000

Come and ride with us in LA or PARIS in March while we are shooting and be in the ending sequence of the film. Plus you will be credited in the film for your participation. You will also You will received the patch, Tshirt, as well as a poster signed by the entire team. You will be invited to the premiere in Europe or in the US and to the party.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 10,000
About $10,000

Become a Producer
You will receive an associate producer in the opening credit in the film as well as on in IMDB. You will be invited to the premiere in Europe or in the US and to the party.
You will be invited to come on the set in Paris or LA in the last days of shooting in March. You will received the patch, Tshirt as well as a poster signed by the entire team